Folding-machine.



A.0LSENQ FOLDING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. 1914. 1,1 91,819. I Patented 1.113718, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A: OLSEN.

FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APII. 4, I9I4.

' Patented .my 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE.

ANDREW OLSEN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND FOLDINGMACHINE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION F OHIO.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J lily 18, 1916.

Application filed April 4, 1914. Serial No. 829,635.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ANDREW 4OLsEN, a subject of the King of Sweden,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in F olding-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in folding machines, and moreparticularly to certain details thereof, which secure accuracy andsmooth, even folds in the paper folded thereby. These improvements areapplicable to mechanism forming the rightangle fold, although they arenot necessarily limited thereto.

In folding the right-angle folds, especially with the machine operatingat high speed,

it is commonly found that diagonal creases are formed at the foldededges, which, of course, mar the complete signature or folded sheet.Moreover, the lighter paper stock, when passed into the folding plateagainst its stops, not infrequently is yfound to slip slightly out ofregister or alinement, and in consequence the edges of the completedsignature or folded sheet are at a slight angle with each other.

Accordingly, I have invented certain simple devices or adjuncts` for thefolding machine hereinafter explained, which serve to correct thedifficulties just referred to.

. Briefly, these comprise a guide suitably positioned before theright-angle buckling and folding rolls of the folding machine, whichincludes. resilient means forexpelling the air from the plies of thefolded sheet; this being the common cause for diagonal wrinkles therein.There are also associated with the side plate of the right-angle foldingmechanism, a plurality of laterally acting springswhich serve to holdthe folded sheet in position therein with its surfaces in closeengagement, but said springs are herein claimed only in combination withother features of my invention.

These improvements are hereinafter described and shown in detail inconnection with sufficient of the folding machine mechanism to maketheir operation and construc tion perfectly clear. i

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates the sideplate, together with co-acting folding and buckling rolls,

equipped with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the course ofthe paper from the folding machine into said slde plate and the relationof the various parts. Fig. Sis an enlarged detail of the inverted guide,shown partially broken away to eX- hibit the springs. Fig. 4 is anotherdetail showing the position of the springs within. the side plate, andFig. 5 is an end view of a folding machine to which my improvements ,areapplicable; the same being centrally broken away and briefly describedfor illustrating the general purpose of my invention.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, I have employed the samecharacter of reference to indicate similar parts. These improvements areapplicable to the folding machine set forth in application for-Referring first to Fig. 5, the course of the paper through the foldingmachine may be traced, in order to afford an initial idea of the presentimprovements and their purpose. Assuming that the paper has received itsprimary transverse fold or folds, it is passed to the vertical frame afrom between paired rolls b, b; the rear co-acting rolls of each pairbeing hidden. From the frame a, the paper is passed to the right intothe folding plate c, by means of ,the two sets of inclined verticalrolls d, e, which co-act with the guide o to support and advance thepaper for its right angle'fold. The folding plate o is set at a/n angleof 45 degrees with the transverse travel of the paper, to which it is`passed through the V-shaped guide f 'by the buckling rolls g, it, untilengaged wlth a /stop c (see diagram Fig. 2) when the foldlThe gage orthickness of these springs is somewhat exaggerated (Fig. 4) for thepurpose of illustration, but they are tensioned to bear uponthe'inserted portion of the folded sheet and hold it in alinement withthe remainder of the sheet between the rolls; said springs being readilydeflected for the purpose of permitting the passage of the paper intoand out of the side plate. The

position of the supporting bar c and its attached springs 7c, togetherwith. the stops c', may be varied to suit the length of the folded sheetwhich is passed through the side plate, and the right-angle fold l whichis to be made. 1

It will be understood that as the folded sheets pass beneath the springsections of the guide f, the air will very readily be expelled frombetween the adjacent surfaces of the paper, hence no appreciable amountof air lwill remain therebetween to cause wrinkles as the paper passesbetween rolls g, L. As thepaper passes within the side plate, it engagesthe bowed springs 7c, which serve to maintain it in position with itssurfaces pressed closely together, thereby over-r coming the naturalresiliency of the paper and preventing the entrance of any appreciableamount of air between its surfaces. A plurality of spaced, adjustablesprings preferably are employed for this purpose,

which also serve to maintain the sheet in alinement while traveling intoand out of the side plate, preliminary to completing the right-anglefold. v

Having now described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following l; In afolding machine, the combination with paired rolls, of a guideassociated therewith, through which the paper is adapted to be passed tosaid rolls, and resilient means within the guide for expelling the airfrom between the folded plies of the sheet, su'bstantially as set forth.

2. In a folding machine, the combination with folding rolls, of a guidepositioned before said rolls, through which the sheet is adapted to bepassed thereto, and a plurality of spring-members engaging the foldedsheet substantially throughout its entire width, and adapted. to expelthe air from between its folded plies, substantially as set forth.

3.1m a folding machine, the combination with fright-angle folding andsheet-passing rolls, of a guide through which the sheet is directed tosaid rolls, and a series of light springs presenting substantiallycontinuous surfaces adapted to bear upon the sheet and expel the airfrom between its folded plies, substantially as set forth.

4. In a folding machine, the combination with the right-anglefoldingmechanism, of 75 a guide in advance thereof, resilientairexpelling means adapted to engage the paper, an associated side-frameand a plurality of spaced spring-members therein laterally bearingagainst the paper and adapt- .ed to maintain it in closely foldedcondition, substantially as set forth.

5. In a folding machine, the combination with right-angle foldingmechanism, comprising folding and buckling rolls and associatedair-expelling mechanism, of a side plate positioned adjacent thereto, apaper stop therein, and an adjustable spring mechanism associated withsaid side plate and adapted to bear upon the folded sheet and maintainits surfaces in engagement while said sheet is traveling therein,substantially as set forth.

6. In a folding machine, the combination with co-acting paired rolls, ofa guiding member adapted to direct the paper between said rolls, andresilient means associated with said member and engaging the sheetsubstantially throughout a given plane for 'expelling the air frombetween the folded 10o sure-means adapted to bear upon the sheetapproximately at all points along its width for expressing thev air frombetween the plies of said sheet prior to its insertion betweenthevco-acting rolls, substantially as set forth.

8. In a paper folding machine, the combination with co-acting rolls, ofmeans for advancing folded sheets thereto, and airexpelling meansadapted to act substantially throughout the width of the sheet; the samebeing positioned immediately before said rolls for forcing the air frombetween the plies of ythe sheet, substantially as set forth.

ln testimony whereof I do now affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ANDREW GLSEN.

Witnesses:

REUBEN Hrroncoox, A.. L. LAWRENCE.

